OT - Hot tub or pool? Beachcomber?

GrateEggspectations

My wife and I were considering an in-ground pool. We have two young children and thought it would be a nice feature for them. The only issue is that we live in a climate where we’d get only about 4 months of use yearly. The cost is also quite significant, and that’s not even factoring in the landscaping or permits. 

I suggested a hot tub as an alternative. Not as good for the kids, but nonetheless a fun option. Initial costs would be about 1/4 those of an in-ground pool, and use would be year round. We have several family members with pools we can visit, but none with a hot tub, making it a good option for visits to one another’s places. My wife was initially reluctant to consider a spa, but is starting to change her tune. 

Anyone have experience with the Beachcomber spas sold at Costco? https://www.costco.ca/beachcomber-669-leep-28-jets-(128-flexjets)-7-person-spa.product.100479033.html

Thoughts on the hot tub vs pool and on the above referenced spa would be appreciated!

Thanks. 

lousubcap

No comment on the Beachcomber spa but in the pool vs spa discussion I am a big believer the going the spa route for all the reasons you mention along with the safety aspects relative to small children.  
I have had great luck with Sundance spas, getting over 16 years out of one in a house we turned into a rental for 14 years (and still going strong when we sold the house) and 19 years out of another until the mother board started experiencing gremlins.
Enjoy wherever you land.  

dmchicago

Pool with heater for the win. 

Our pool is relatively small, approximately 8000 gallons. We use the heater often. We Went out to an early dinner last night and hit the pool once home around 8. 

I had the temperature at 104, so hot tub-ish. 

Delightful. 

Legume

We had a hot tub when the kids were young and kept it pool temp during the summer for the kids.  Worked fine when they were pretty young for a couple of years.

Then we put a pool in and for years our house was the one the kids hung out at.  Loved that, but we had a long pool season.  Too large to heat in the winter, so we didn’t, but we would use the attached spa.

Moved again, no pool or spa and kids are gone so we got a hot tub from Costco and it’s been great. I believe the brand is Aquaterra and they’re made for Costco in the Hot Springs factory.  Several brands made there.  Paid about 60% of list of something from the hot springs store, but of course those have a bunch of bells and whistles we didn’t care about.

kdink

Legume said:

We had a hot tub when the kids were young and kept it pool temp during the summer for the kids.  Worked fine when they were pretty young for a couple of years.

Then we put a pool in and for years our house was the one the kids hung out at.  Loved that, but we had a long pool season.  Too large to heat in the winter, so we didn’t, but we would use the attached spa.

Moved again, no pool or spa and kids are gone so we got a hot tub from Costco and it’s been great. I believe the brand is Aquaterra and they’re made for Costco in the Hot Springs factory.  Several brands made there.  Paid about 60% of list of something from the hot springs store, but of course those have a bunch of bells and whistles we didn’t care about.

Hot Springs Spa's are fantastic,  had one for 18yrs, moved it 4 times, probably still be working if I didn't drop it.  Held in temp in winter.  Always had to brush the snow off the top held the heat that well.  If I bought another would only be a hot springs made spa

Legume

We’ve had this one about a year, no issues and you’re right, it holds temp without a problem, heats quickly if I choose to bump the temp up and snow accumulates on the top.

Gulfcoastguy

It depends on the climate. Mine is 180 degrees opposite of the OPs. I could only comfortably use a hot tub about 4 months a year. One advantage to hot tubs though is you can get locking covers. That is an important consideration with small kids, small grandkids, or stray neighbor kids. Even pets for what it matters. Anyhow if you get the pool invest in a pool alarm and a locking fence.

SamIAm2

GrateEggspectations - If you do go for the spa, contact Covana Spa Covers (1-877-278-8010). Trust me, you will get tired of manual covers - rapidly. They are a Canadian company, about 3 hours from your place so delivery should be much better than it was for me in FLA. 

Cornholio

I live in Orange County, CA and even here our pool is really only comfortable for about 5 months of the year. We heat it occasionally in the off seasons because it doesn’t get too cold here. If you live where it gets below freezing then it’s a bit more of a pain to shut it down for winter and open it back up for the summer. But as least you aren’t maintaining it during the down time. 

I used to be a pool cleaner back in high school and college and do all my own pool maintenance now that I own one (I’ve also owned a hot tub and maintained it myself). For me it is easier to take care of a pool than a hot tub. The chemical levels are a lot easier to keep in check with a pool vs a hot tub for a few reasons. Spas are obviously a lot warmer which makes things grow easier in them. The smaller size would make it seem easier to maintain but it also means more nasty stuff accumulates in that smaller area such as dead skin, oils, sunscreen, lotions, etc. 

Kids will have a lot more fun in a pool, playing the how long can you hold your breath game in a spa gets old fast and that’s pretty much all you can play in there. It’s basically a big bathtub for them. You also tend to hangout by a pool more during the summer than you would a spa, just being out by the pool having dinner off the egg etc. is nice. 

So if I were choosing I’d go pool, which is what we have and we have a 5yr old and 3yr old. We have a fence around ours and our kids are already able to swim but before they could we never felt nervous about it. If you are relatively handy around the house you can do your own chemicals and maintenance, I just tore the filter down on Friday for a 6 month cleaning and it took me an hour. I also have an automatic pool sweeper (Roomba for the pool) which makes cleaning a breeze.

GrateEggspectations

Thanks for the input, all. 

To expand, temps in my area are extreme on both sides. Dry, bitterly cold, long winters as cold as -40F. Short, hot, humid summers up to 104F. Without a pool heater, the swimming season is realistically beginning of July through mid-September. With a heater, you could probably extend that a few weeks on either end, but that still makes for a really short season. This is the biggest consideration pushing me towards a hot tub. When I had a RWD sports car, it just killed me to use it only six months a year. 

Also, I like smoking cigars from time to time. A hot tub gives me an all-season smoking lounge.  

If I was to ignore the climate factor, a pool would be the clear winner - even at the much bigger price. But  when taking climate into account, seems like the HT makes more sense. 

Is my logic flawed?

Legume

They’re spendy, but you can get a swim spa, basically a long hot tub with a swim jet.  They even have electric lifting cover that acts as a roof.  Insulated and stays heated like a hot tub, more real estate + swim jet and big hot tub when you want it.

Legume

https://hottubsbyhotspring.com/product/endless-pools-fitness-systems/recsport-r500-recreation-systems/

This kind of thing.

SaltySam

If you do go the hot tub route, 220v is an absolute necessity, especially given the climate you live in.   We put ours in and have used it probably 5x a week, year round. We just set the temp at 101 in the summer and 103-104 in the winter.  I was worried it would lose its luster after a few months, but it’s great. 

@dmchicago you keep an 8000 gallon pool at 104?  😳Is your electric bill addressed to Clark Griswold? Holy cow!  

dmchicago

SaltySam said:

If you do go the hot tub route, 220v is an absolute necessity, especially given the climate you live in.   We put ours in and have used it probably 5x a week, year round. We just set the temp at 101 in the summer and 103-104 in the winter.  I was worried it would lose its luster after a few months, but it’s great. 

@dmchicago you keep an 8000 gallon pool at 104?  😳Is your electric bill addressed to Clark Griswold? Holy cow!  

The heater uses Natural gas. We've noticed that when we use it 'alot", it increases our NG bill by about $50. Well worth the cost, IMHO.

Now my electric bill is a beast for other reasons...mostly because I basically live in a glass house that faces south.

Canugghead

@dmchicago tell us about the bidet in the pool 

dmchicago

Canugghead said:

@dmchicago tell us about the bidet in the pool 

You have to get the jets adjusted just right. But when you do....OMG!

WeberWho

dmchicago said:

show previous quotes

SaltySam said:

If you do go the hot tub route, 220v is an absolute necessity, especially given the climate you live in.   We put ours in and have used it probably 5x a week, year round. We just set the temp at 101 in the summer and 103-104 in the winter.  I was worried it would lose its luster after a few months, but it’s great. 

@dmchicago you keep an 8000 gallon pool at 104?  😳Is your electric bill addressed to Clark Griswold? Holy cow!  

The heater uses Natural gas. We've noticed that when we use it 'alot", it increases our NG bill by about $50. Well worth the cost, IMHO.

Now my electric bill is a beast for other reasons...mostly because I basically live in a glass house that faces south.

You must be doing it right. My buddy has a hot tub outdoors here in MN and his hot tub ran him about $300/month during the middle of winter last year. I think he's on the verge on selling it. 

CornfedMA

Let me throw a curveball at you. Have you looked at a plunge-type pool? We’re in the middle of a build and are putting in a Soake Pool. It’s precast concrete and has the flexibility to be installed in-ground, above ground, heated, pool temp, exercise, relaxation, etc. Kind of a jack of all trades in a smaller package. 

EggNorth

Most people just sit or stand in a pool... might as well get a comfortable seat and get a hot tub, especially in cold areas when like you said the pool is only open for 3 to 4 months a year.

We have a ‘Pacific Spa’ hot tub, which is no longer made, use it all year.  The store we bought it from has great support.

Of course if you have young kids, maybe a pool is worth it.

paqman

Year long hot tub sounds like a good idea until the GFCI breaker goes south while you are away for a few days and it is -30C outside.   Don’t ask how I know 😳😳😳

lousubcap

A second on the 220V juice supply to the spa.  No issues with maintaining any temperature although here it rarely gets to single digits *F.  Given the improvements in insulation etc (not the friggin bells and whistles) going from a 1982 to a 1999 was noticeable.
@dmchicago- a direct focused spa jet will make your bidet or pool jet pale in comparison.  

Legume

lousubcap said:

A second on the 220V juice supply to the spa.  No issues with maintaining any temperature although here it rarely gets to single digits *F.  Given the improvements in insulation etc (not the friggin bells and whistles) going from a 1982 to a 1999 was noticeable.
@dmchicago- a direct focused spa jet will make your bidet or pool jet pale in comparison.  

Scrubbing bubbles?

JohnEggGio

Jacuzzi 480 here.  Pricey, but very sweet.  Lots of jets, lights, waterfalls...roomy - I can float on my back without touching the sides.  Had it 4 years - really, not a significant increase in electric bill.  

paqman

lousubcap said:

@dmchicago- a direct focused spa jet will make your bidet or pool jet pale in comparison.  

Do you « bidet » in your spa 😂😂😂

fishlessman

lake house

dmchicago

lousubcap said:

A second on the 220V juice supply to the spa.  No issues with maintaining any temperature although here it rarely gets to single digits *F.  Given the improvements in insulation etc (not the friggin bells and whistles) going from a 1982 to a 1999 was noticeable.
@dmchicago- a direct focused spa jet will make your bidet or pool jet pale in comparison.  

I have a feeling that my hot tub would NOT be "pale" after employing the bidet at jet force.

nolaegghead

dmchicago said:

show previous quotes

lousubcap said:

A second on the 220V juice supply to the spa.  No issues with maintaining any temperature although here it rarely gets to single digits *F.  Given the improvements in insulation etc (not the friggin bells and whistles) going from a 1982 to a 1999 was noticeable.
@dmchicago- a direct focused spa jet will make your bidet or pool jet pale in comparison.  

I have a feeling that my hot tub would NOT be "pale" after employing the bidet at jet force.

But with that focused attention and massive chlorine content have the added benefit of a bleached butt-hole?  Glass half full.

Mark_B_Good

I have both ... and my decision would be hands down a hot tub.  Hot tub you can use year round ... pool is for how many months a year?  Plus as the kids get older ... the pool gets used less, but not the spa.  In fact, my kids (12, 18) enjoy the spa just as much as the pool.

As for beachcomber ... they have a good name ... never used them though. I have a Hot Springs.

I'd say look into the features a bit more, for instance:

- how many pumps (you'll need 2 minimum, trust me ... possibly even a third recirc pump)
- what's the filtration area (bigger is better ... all that water flow needs to go through the filters).
-what is the seating like ... (my recommendation is ditch the lounger ... I have one, and it's a waste of what could be an additional two seats).
- how many jets, are they adjustable?
- I'm not a fan of sound systems .... they break, especially in winter. Use a portable water proof speaker ... does the job fine.
- what is the warranty like?

johnmitchell

frazzdaddy

Mark_B_Good said:

I have both ... and my decision would be hands down a hot tub.  Hot tub you can use year round ... pool is for how many months a year?  Plus as the kids get older ... the pool gets used less, but not the spa.  In fact, my kids (12, 18) enjoy the spa just as much as the pool.

As for beachcomber ... they have a good name ... never used them though. I have a Hot Springs.

I'd say look into the features a bit more, for instance:

- how many pumps (you'll need 2 minimum, trust me ... possibly even a third recirc pump)
- what's the filtration area (bigger is better ... all that water flow needs to go through the filters).
-what is the seating like ... (my recommendation is ditch the lounger ... I have one, and it's a waste of what could be an additional two seats).
- how many jets, are they adjustable?
- I'm not a fan of sound systems .... they break, especially in winter. Use a portable water proof speaker ... does the job fine.
- what is the warranty like?

Spot on, good post.

smittydog27

I’m on my second Master Spa (this one is a Michael Phelps edition).  My wife lives in it.  I go out a about once a day.  Good for muscles and get to sleep quickly.  She still wants a pool.  We will see.  Anyway, the hot tub is nice luxury.